Indiana's Dec. jobless rate rose to 8.2 percent

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Indiana's unemployment rate grew slightly in December to 8.2 percent even though state officials say the state added 8,300 private sector jobs.

Figures released Friday by the state Department of Workforce Development show Indiana's jobless rate rose 0.2 percent from November's 8 percent rate.

State Workforce Development Commissioner Scott Sanders attributed the increase mainly to more than 7,000 unemployed Indiana residents returning to the labor force to look for work. His agency says about 267,000 Indiana residents were unemployed in December, up 15,000 from about 252,000 in November. That's based on a survey of 1,000 households.

December's U.S. unemployment rate was 7.8 percent, the same as in November.